Description

A tasty side-dish with Tofu and a host of spices that promises to tingle your taste-buds.

Ingredients

Tofu – 200grams
Onion – 1 -large – finely chopped
Tomatoes – 2-medium sized- finely chopped
Coconut Pieces- a fistful – roasted

Green Masala Paste for the marinade

Green Chillis – 5 – to taste
Ginger – a small piece (washed & peeled)
Garlic -1 large pod
Coriander leaves – a small bunch
water- as required

For the Ground Masala Paste

Coriander Seeds – 1 to 2 tbsp
Green Chillis – 5 – to taste
Cloves- 6 nos
Cinnamon – a small stick
Black Peppercorn – 2 tbsp – to taste
Aniseed – a very small piece
Mace – little
Poppy seeds – 1 tsp
Nutmeg – little
Turmeric Powder -1/2 tsp
Cardamom – Seeds of 3 pods

For Garnish

Caramelised Onions – a few pieces
Coriander leaves – as required

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Instructions

Immerse the block of tofu in hot water for 5- 10 minutes. Drain well & cut in to small cubes.
Grind the ingredients for the marinade with little water in to a fine paste
In a bowl, mix the marinade paste with the cubed tofu and refrigerate it for an hour. This allows the bean curd to absorb the spices well.
In a small pan, add a drop or two of oil & roast the ingredients for the masala/spice paste. Once it cools down grind the paste with required water to a fine paste. Set it aside.
In the same pan, dry roast the coconut pieces to an aromatic brown & grind them to a coarse powder.
In a kadai/pan/wok, add oil and saute the onions for a few minutes. As it turns pink, tip in the chopped tomotoes and let it cook for a while. Add salt to it and mix well
Add the ground masala paste & the coarsely ground coconut powder and mix well. At this point add a cup of water to it and bring it to a boil. Let the mix simmer for a while and the spices blend thoroughly. The medley of flavours along with onions & tomatoes need to come to a gravy like consistency.
Drop the marinated & refrigerated tofu. Mix & let it remain on flame for a few minutes.
Garnish with caramelized onions & coriander leaves
Serve hot with rice/rotis/bread

Notes

1. Coconut as well as the spices are roasted to bring out the depth of flavor & taste.
2. The spices can be adjusted to suit your palate.
3. The dish is best enjoyed with Red Rice or Buns.
4. Wash/Immerse the block of tofu in hot water to ward away any unwanted bacteria/impurities

Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 20 mins